This Creole dish is made with ground beef, sweet Italian sausage, white rice, chopped vegetables and infused with savory cajun flavors, making it a perfect simulation of this Louisiana classic.
What is dirty rice?
Dirty rice sometimes referred to as “rice dressing” or “cajun rice” is a Classic Creole dish from Louisiana. They call it “DIRTY” rice because it’s made with WHITE RICE that gets a “DIRTY” light brown color by the time it’s done cooking.
Some common ingredients are: Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and ground beef… so no wonder the white rice ends up with a light brown color by the time it’s finished cooking.
“Dirty rice” was birthed during slavery
Back during slavery times, chickens were slaughtered and given to the plantation owners while the chicken remains (gizzards, livers, heart, kidneys) and other less desirable parts were left for the slaves.
They would make a way out of no way to survive, which they were notorious for doing. They would mince these leftover chicken parts, season them up, and combine them with rice to create what is now known as dirty rice.
Although nowadays, most people use ground beef, chicken, and other meats to make this dish, Creole people in Louisianna traditionally made it using chicken livers and pork meat, like sweet italian sausage.
Growing up on dirty rice
I don’t have too many memories of my parents cooking dirty rice as a kid but I do remember my grandma making some a few times for us but I don’t think she fancied it up like I did.
I recall it being sort of like a throw-away dish for her. I call it that because she never INTENDED or PLANNED to make it. She’d never say, “I’m making a side of dirty rice tonight”! Lmbo!
She would brown some ground beef and turkey she was trying to get rid of, probably because it had been sitting in the freezer for so long, and add it to some rice. Then she’d throw in a few seasonings and ingredients for flavor.
I do remember seeing her add chopped onions to the ground meat as it browned and shaking a bottle of soy sauce as she drizzled some over the rice but she didn’t do anything too fancy like most folks try to. Lol!
It was just something she’d eat for lunch or dinner when she was lazy and didn’t feel like cooking much. I also remember one of my aunts buying some dirty rice a couple of times from the Popeyes near her house.
I’m not sure if they still sell it or not but they sold it in a small round bowl as a side. I don’t remember it being all that good but you can’t expect much from Popeyes. Just like KFC’s mac n cheese, most of these stores’ side dishes are average at best.
What makes this a good dish?
- Everyone likes it: Dirty rice is a fan favorite in my opinion because it has 2 ingredients we all love… ground beef and rice – it’s just mixed together.
You won’t find too many people turning their faces up at dirty rice because it’s not much to “NOT LIKE”. It’s just made up of meat and rice. - It’s easy to make: You don’t have to be the best cook and definitely not a chef to make this dish. I really believe a 12-13 year old with little guidance can make this.
It’s a one-pot/skillet dish… everything goes in one skillet. When you think of it like that you realize how easy it is to make. - It doesn’t take long: Dirty rice is the perfect dish for dinner on days when you’re lazy and don’t feel like laboring over the stove in a hot behind kitchen.
All you do is brown your meat, chop up your vegetables, throw in a few seasonings along with the rice, and bam, you’re ready to eat in under 30 minutes. The best part is you only need one skillet so you won’t have a ton of dishes to do. - You get all your main nutrients: I love this dish because you get your carbs, protein, and vegetables all in one bite. This is truly an all-in-one dish.
You don’t need anything else honestly. If you want a full-course meal, this is it… except you get it all in one spoonful just how kids like it – all mixed together. - Throwaway dish: This is what I call a throwaway dish because as I said earlier, my grandma would make this when she wanted to get rid of some ground meat and veggies that might have been in the refrigerator too long.
This reminds me so much of meatloaf because you can add anything to it and it’ll come out good because everything goes with ground beef and rice.
Got some old cheese you wanna use before it expires, throw it on in there for a cheesy dirty rice. What about a corner or ketchup or broth in the container you want to rid of? Just throw it in there.
See what I’m saying? Lol!
So yea yall, don’t throw that food away! Wasting food is horrible… can’t think of something to use it for? Put it in yo dirty rice. Just make you some dirty rice and throw it on in there. Lol! - Serving options: Dirty rice can be served as a main dish, side dish, or by itself… which gives you a ton of serving options. I personally like to eat it as a side dish with some fried chicken being my main dish.
But trust me, if I’ve eaten all the fried chicken and only have dirty rice left, I’ll add it to a bowl, warm it up, and go to town. Because again, it has everything in it so it can easily and is commonly served as a main dish.
Ingredients alternatives
- Beef broth: I’ve run out of beef broth plenty of times before but I always had a container of beef bouillon cubes somewhere in my cabinet to save the day.
Beef cubes and water = beef broth. Use 2 bouillon cubes for every quart of water. If you don’t have beef bouillon cubes, chicken broth will do. - Sweet Italian sausage: You can replace this with more ground beef or breakfast sausage meat if you have some. If you have ground turkey or chicken on hand, try that.
- Soy sauce: Soy sauce has its unique flavor and is important for this dirty rice dish but other things like Oyster sauce, Worcestershire, or BOQUET’s browning & seasoning can give you that color and have a similar soy sauce flavor.
- Rice: I like to use “White 10-minute Success” rice but you can use your favorite rice, just stick with white rice. If you’re not using a instant rice like I am it will take longer to cook and more broth will be needed. Simmer on low.
The best seasonings to use
- Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning gives dirty rice its authentic flavor. Cajun is the main flavor of a traditional Creole dirty rice recipe so make sure you have some on hand, Creole folk would appreciate it.
- Tony’s Creole seasoning: This is a complete seasoning made up of spices that create what’s known as Creole seasoning. Dirty rice is a creole dish so a touch of this will give it what it needs.
- Seasoning salt: Don’t use salt unless you absolutely have to. Dirty rice is known for being infused with a lot of flavors, cajun and creole to be exact. Seasoning salt is a good option because it has a great Southern flavor.
It adds color to the dish if you don’t have paprika on hand. I use a little seasoning salt because while creole seasoning has salt in it, it’s hot so I don’t want to use too much of it. - Cayenne pepper: This is a good substitute and option if you don’t have creole or cajun seasoning and need to add more heat to the dirty rice.
How to make dirty rice
1. Chop up the vegetables.
2. Cook the meat until brown then remove fat.
3. Add in the chopped vegetables and saute for 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the paste, soy, and Worcestershire sauce.
5. Add the rice and broth.
6. Cover with a lid and simmer until done.
Tips for best results:
- Use fresh ground beef: One thing I always tell people when making any dish with ground meat is to use fresh ground meat. Ground meat that’s been sitting in the freezer for weeks just doesn’t do this dish the same justice.
The meat texture tends to change and it also seems to lose a bit of its flavor which may be the result of sitting in ice for too long. So always use fresh ground beef, it will make a huge difference, trust me. - Use fresh vegetables: Vegetables that have been stored in the freezer will lose a bit of flavor and its bite and crunch after they unthaw. Limp vegetables you can barely chop are a no, no. Go with fresh onions, peppers, and celery.
- Don’t cook the rice separately: While cooking the rice separately then adding it to the meat sounds like a quick and easy option… letting the rice simmer with the ground beef make a big difference.
Why? Because it absorbs all the ingredients and flavors while it’s cooking infusing the rice with deliciousness. This is what gives the rice it’s classic dirty rice color. Just cooking it and adding it last takes away from the dish.
What to serve with dirty rice
- Fried chicken: Uhmmm, fried chicken… duh! Lol! I mean, it’s the best thing to serve it with. Why else ya think they sell it as a side dish at Popeye’s Chicken?
- Baked BBQ chicken: I had to include this because I recently made a dinner with dirty rice on the side of BBQ chicken and even though baked BBQ chicken wasn’t the plan, it was a surprisingly good combo I must say.
- Smothered meats: Dirty rice goes well with smothered meat as well. Like baked chicken and gravy or baked pork chops and gravy. You can even add a tbs of flour to the dirty rice after adding the broth to create a little gravy.
Other ground beef and sweet Italian sausage recipes
Enjoy, later
PBJ~
Easy Dirty Rice Recipe (Made with Ground beef & Italian Sausage)
This Creole dish is made with ground beef, sweet Italian sausage, white rice, and chopped vegetables and infused with savory cajun flavors, making it a perfect simulation of this Louisiana classic.
- Total Time: 45 Mins
- Yield: 8
Ingredients
1–1/2 Cup White 10 Minute Success Rice
1/2 Lb Ground Beef
1/2 Lb Sweet Italian Sausage
3 Cups Beef Broth
4 Tbs Onions, finely chopped
2 Tbs Green Bell Peppers, finely chopped
2 Tbs Red Bell Peppers, finely chopped
2 Tbs Celery, finely chopped
2 Tbs Jalapenos, finely chopped
2 Tsps Minced Garlic
1 Tbs Tomato Paste
2 Tsps Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tsp Soy Sauce
2 Tsp Paprika
1 Tsp Seasoning Salt
1 Tsp Tony’s Creole Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
1. Chop onions, peppers, celery, and jalapenos into small pieces.
2. Place a skillet over medium heat and add ground beef and sweet Italian sausage.
3. Break up with 2 spatulas while cooking for 10 minutes or until no longer pink.
4. Drain fat if necessary, then add in the chopped vegetables and minced garlic and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Add in the paste, Worcestershire, and soy sauce then stir well.
6. Then add in the rice and broth.
7. Cover with a lid leaving a crack on the side and cook until rice is tender.
Notes
- This dish is a little on the spicy side so for those of you who don’t like very spicy food, omit the Creole seasoning and add more seasoning salt if needed.
- If the broth cooks out before the rice is done, add 2 more cups and continue cooking. Do this until the rice is done.
- Prep Time: 15 Mins
- Cook Time: 30 Mins
- Category: Sides
- Method: American
- Cuisine: Creole
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